With the current Covid-19 restrictions, automotive journalists across Canada have relied on our contacts within the industry for news of the latest developments… the following article was provided to us by Christine Hollander, Communications Manager, FORD of Canada.
Superpowers Only Electric Can Deliver
F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for 44 years¹ and Canada’s best-selling trucks for 55 years¹ charges into the future with the F-150 Lightning, elevated by all the advantages of electrification and packed with connected technology. F-150 Lighting is a powerhouse that delivers a targeted 563 horsepower and 775 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any F-150 ever – an exhilarating drive, a high-tech frunk, and the ability to power your home if needed.
Advanced Tech Now – To Guide You Into the Future
F-150 Lightning offers an ingenious array of connected, intelligent features that improve over time via over-the-air software updates; FordPass app provides seamless access to charging stations and remote vehicle controls; available BlueCruise offers true hands-free driving on the highway, while enhanced Pro Power Onboard powers jobsites or campsites.
No Question: Built Ford Tough Comes Standard
Powered by dual in-board motors and with standard 4×4, F-150 Lightning can take on rough terrain with Built Ford Tough durability and capability. Along with a high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy body, a new independent rear suspension delivers improved ride comfort, while an all-new frame uses the strongest steel ever put in an F150 frame and supports a maximum 2,000-pound payload and up to 10,000-pound towing capacity.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 19, 2021 – The truck of the future is here. The F-150 Lightning is the smartest, most innovative truck Ford has ever built. From near instant torque to intelligent towing, seamless connectivity to software updates, plus power for your home, a power frunk and a digital screen that’s larger than any currently offered on a full-size truck – F-150 Lightning is a driving and ownership experience unlike any other.
F-150 Lightning will roll off the lines next year at a new high-tech, factory using sustainable manufacturing practices at Ford’s storied Rouge complex in Dearborn just outside Detroit.
“For both Ford and the American auto industry, F-150 Lightning represents a defining moment as we progress toward a zero-emissions, digitally connected future,” said Bill Ford, executive chair, Ford Motor Company. “F-Series is America’s best-selling truck for 44 years, the backbone of work across the country, and a trusted icon for generations of customers. Now we are revolutionizing it for a new generation.”
F-150 Lightning is a pillar of the company’s $22 billion USD global electric vehicle plan to lead electrification in areas of strength. Ford is starting with zero-emissions versions of its most popular and best-loved franchises – Mustang, Transit and F-150 – with much more to come in the years ahead.
Wickedly quick off the mark, quiet and smooth, F-150 Lightning delivers a new experience for truck owners. The electric platform unlocks new capabilities as well – such as enough energy to power an entire home and a massive lockable frunk with power and charging capabilities to spare. Ford will deploy standard over-the-air software updates – called Ford Power-Ups – to improve the technology experience, add new features and fix issues without trips to the dealership.
All this and more backed by proven Built Ford Tough F-Series durability and capability and the largest public charging network in North America².
The commercial-oriented entry model starts at $58,000 MSRP³, while the XLT model starts at $68,000 MSRP, offering additional comfort and technology.
FORD’s suggested starting price for the XLT model in Canada is 68K but includes more standard equipment. The Canadian models start at a higher trim level for XTL than the US models, so you really need to compare similarly equipped vehicles.
A few examples of standard F150 Lightning equipment in Canada:
- 9.6 KW Pro Power on Board
- Tailgate work surface
- Ford Co-Pilot 360 assist 2.0 which includes lots of advanced tech.
- Heated front seat
- Power down tailgate
- LED box lighting with zone lighting
- Intelligent access
- 20-inch dark carbonized gray aluminum
- Rain-sensing wipers
FORD Canada will also offer a commercial based F150 Lightning that will start at 58K. Specs are not yet available. More information on this vehicle will be available at a later date.
The information supplied by FORD continues…
F-Series has been Canada’s best-selling truck for 55 consecutive years by consistently delivering on the needs, both known and unknown, of the customers through continuous innovation and the exacting durability and capability standards of Built Ford Tough. F-150 Lightning is built on this foundation of productivity and versatility and takes it all to the next level with the attributes that come from electrification. Finally, F-150 Lightning has proven itself through the same rigorous engineering and testing process we utilize on all F-Series trucks.
The all-new, all-electric F-150 Lightning is the first-ever F-Series that’s zero-emissions, featuring more connected technology, an elevated driving experience and trusted Built Ford Tough durability and capability. More than able to get the job done at work or recreation, F-150 Lightning can haul up to 2,000 pounds and tow up to 10,000 pounds, plus it’s packed with smart, purposeful technology that includes available Ford Intelligent Backup Power to transfer power from truck to home in case of an outage, the convenience of available BlueCruise hands-free driver assist technology during highway trips and over-the-air software updates to keep the truck at the forefront of technology.
For more information please consult your local FORD dealer, and tell them that you read about the trucks on the RV Lifestyle Magazine website.
“The F-150 Lightning is a massive moment for our Ford team. North America’s No. 1 auto brand is going zero emissions with America’s favorite vehicle. It’s quicker than a Raptor, with standard 4×4 and independent rear suspension; a power frunk, enough juice to run your house for three days or power an awesome tailgate; and it will forever improve with over-the-air updates,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “It will be built at the Rouge factory, where Henry Ford changed the world and my grandfather punched in every day. F-150 Lightning represents all that our country can do when we push for progress.”
F-150 Lightning targets 563 horsepower, 775 lb.-ft. of nearly instantaneous torque (See subscript four)– more than any F-150 ever – and a 0-60 mph time in the mid-4-second range when equipped with an extended-range battery, based on typical industry methodology. F-150 Lightning targets a maximum 2,000 pounds of payload in the standard-range model and a maximum 10,000 pounds of available towing capacity on XLT and Lariat trucks with the extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package. The low centre of gravity brings even more confident handling whether traveling along rain-slicked roads or through sand.
“We’re not here to make an electric truck for the few– Ford is committed to building one that solves real problems for real people,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford president, Americas and International Markets Group, Ford Motor Company. “F-150 Lightning delivers everything we’ve said electric vehicles can offer, plus the capability expected from a Built Ford Tough truck – not just near instant torque but powerful towing and hauling customers can depend on.”
Smart, Connected – And Better Over Time
Packed with intelligent features, F-150 Lightning epitomizes how Ford combines advanced digital technologies with proven engineering know-how to create a truck that is even smarter and more productive. As part of available Ford Co-Pilot360™ technology, BlueCruise allows for true hands-free driving on more than 160,000 km of pre-qualified divided highways in the U.S. and Canada – with more Hands-Free Blue Zones to come in the future (See superscript five).
Another example is available Onboard Scales, which uses the truck’s sensors to estimate payload and tell customers how much they’re hauling. And since payload can impact range, Onboard Scales is integrated with Intelligent Range to help ensure F-150 Lightning gives an accurate estimate of how far you can go. F-150 Lightning debuts available Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, which automatically controls steering, throttle and brake inputs to make hitching trailers even easier.
Also making its F-Series debut on select vehicles is Phone as A Key. When activated, this allows customers to lock, unlock and start their truck without taking their phone out of their pocket or using a key fob.
All these features and more can get even better over time with Ford Power-Up software updates. These can help improve the performance of F-150 Lightning, deliver quality upgrades, update existing features and add all-new functions and capabilities. The majority of updates will be completed in under two minutes and whenever the customer chooses (See superscript 6).
Advanced Digital Experience
Making its truck debut on F-150 Lightning in the Lariat and Platinum series is SYNC® 4A – a sleek, modern interface supported by a 15.5-inch touch screen and designed to adapt to driver behaviour. SYNC 4A employs natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access to your favourite services: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, integrated Amazon Alexa and SYNC AppLink apps.
Elevating the digital experience even further is the 12-inch instrument cluster, featuring a customizable interface that instills confidence by naturally surfacing key information. Animated graphics smoothly relay how the vehicle is performing in hands-free highway driving mode or how well you’re bringing power back to your vehicle through regenerative braking, seamlessly providing relevant information as needed.
“It really is the smartest F-150 we’ve ever made.” said Darren Palmer, general manager, Battery Electric Vehicles, Ford Motor Company. “F-150 Lightning offers an immersive touch screen, giving our customers all the info they want in an instant – a real-time view of where they’re going, what they’re hauling or how much real-world range they’ve got banked. And with Ford Power-Up software updates, the experience is only going to get better.”
Revolutionary Power At Home
Debuting on F-150 Lightning is available Ford Intelligent Backup Power, turning your truck into the ultimate power source for your home. With the ability to offload 9.6 kW of power, Ford Intelligent Backup Power keeps the lights on during an outage while providing security by powering home appliances, security systems and more.
“Whether sheltering during a storm or trying to stay safe in a heat wave, customers can now use their truck to give themselves power when they need it most,” said Ryan O’Gorman, electric vehicle manager, Strategic Partnerships. “F-150 Lightning is built for seamless transitions between charging your vehicle and powering your house when needed – and Ford is the first in the North America. to offer this capability on an electric truck.”
With Ford Intelligent Backup Power, enabled by the available 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro and home management system, the F-150 Lightning automatically kicks in to power your house. Once power is restored, the truck automatically reverts to charging its battery. Based on an average 30kWh of use per day, F-150 Lightning with extended-range battery provides full-home power for up to three days, or as long as 10 days if power is rationed, with results varying based on energy usage.
In the future, Ford will introduce Ford Intelligent Power, which can use the truck to power homes during high-cost, peak-energy hours while taking advantage of low-cost overnight rates to charge the vehicle in time for your morning drive. This can help save money on electricity that powers your vehicle and home while also taking pressure off the grid in peak usage times.
Stay Plugged in on the Road
Power capability is not limited to the home, either. With enhanced Pro Power Onboard, customers can take advantage of built-in electrical outlets to directly power a variety of tools, electronics and appliances away from home. An impressive 9.6 kilowatts of power is standard on all trims from XTL, Lariat to Platinum – a combination of up to 2.4 kilowatts available through the front trunk and up to 7.2 kilowatts through outlets in the cab and bed. Smart features make power management easier than ever. Customers receive a FordPass notification if their truck’s battery falls below one-third of its total range, and they can even set the truck to stop using Pro Power Onboard if the battery level approaches the distance to the nearest charging station.
All these capabilities are possible thanks to the truck’s powerful next-generation lithium-ion battery. F-150 Lightning offers two options: a standard-range battery targeting -370 kmestimated range and an extended-range battery targeting 483 km-estimated range (See superscript 7).
Front-Loaded
Under the hood is a versatile, high-tech mega power frunk offering dedicated storage space that’s secure, lockable and easily accessible by a powered open and close system. This spacious area targets 400 litres of volume and 400 pounds of payload – enough to stow two carry-on bags and one checked bag, or two sets of golf clubs. Cleverly designed with bumper-height clearance, this water-resistant space comes equipped with four electrical outlets, two USB chargers and a drainable floor that can double as a food and beverage container. It can easily power a mobile work site or an epic tailgate. With 2.4 kilowatts of power, there’s enough capability to plug in power tools, TVs, laptops, speakers, crock pots and more.
“The words ‘front trunk’ don’t even begin to describe all the innovation and capability Ford packed into this high-powered space,” said Nancy Reppenhagen, supervisor, Global Feature Process. “It will have customers rethinking what their truck is capable of – and enable the kinds of experiences they never would have thought possible before.”
Built Ford Tough Comes Standard
F-150 Lightning goes through the same tortuous Built Ford Tough testing as all F-Series trucks. The military-grade aluminum alloy body and upgraded frame support the advanced battery, while the first F-Series independent rear suspension and low centre of gravity help improve isolation from the road, provide a more stable ride and reduce steering roll – while maintaining the durability and reliability expected from F-150.
“Whether they’re hauling a bed full of firewood through snow or towing a trailer on a road trip, customers need to be able to rely on their truck’s performance,” said Linda Zhang, chief engineer, F-150 Lightning. “This all-electric truck has been engineered with dual in-board motors which means it can take on rough terrain. Our team of engineers has run the same arduous test regime our F-150 customers have learned to expect from Ford.”
F-150 Lightning boasts excellent off-road performance, with a 4×4 system featuring four selectable drive modes: Normal, Sport, Off Road and Tow/Haul. Rugged underbody protection keeps the battery safe, with metal skid plates shielding both the battery and inboard motors from tough terrain. The battery itself is secured inside waterproof casing surrounded by crash absorption protection and has been tested at temperatures as extreme as minus 40 degrees Celsius to ensure Lightning can perform when needed most.
Rigorous endurance testing included running the truck through Iowa Hill, Calif., where it towed massive trailers for long durations up and down steep inclines. As a result, F-150 Lightning sports a state-of-the-art liquid cooling system and powertrain layout that expertly manages heat distribution across the vehicle. Improved cooling systems and components ensure the truck can thrive even in the toughest driving ordeals.
Going Electric, Made Easy
Ford has your back when it comes to charging. Ford is the only automaker to offer an 80-amp charge station as included equipment, helping customers easily charge an extended-range truck at home. This system takes advantage of the only dual onboard charging system on an electric truck in the industry for even faster home charging. With this, F-150 Lightning adds an average range of 48 km per charging hour, fully charging an extended-range truck from 15-100 per cent in about eight hours (See superscrift 8). 
On the road, customers have seamless access to North America’s largest public charging network through FordPass, with more than 63,000 charging plugs and growing. On a 150- kilowatt DC fast charger, extended-range F-150 Lightning is targeted to get up to 87 km of range in 10 minutes and charge from 15-80 per cent in about 41 minutes. F-150 Lightning takes the guesswork out of when and where to re-charge with FordPass Power My Trip, which identifies charging routes before even starting your journey. In the truck, Intelligent Range accurately calculates range while factoring in weather, traffic, payload, towing weights and more. Cloud-connected navigation on SYNC 4 also identifies public charging locations and prompts owners to charge at convenient points on each drive.
Distinctive, High-Tech Design
F-150 Lightning is undeniably an F-Series truck. Building on the strength of the existing F-150 design DNA, Ford created a truck that epitomizes the toughness people love while adding a distinctly modern, high-tech flair. Key elements include available signature LED light bars that run across the front and rear, plus three new grille designs that bring a bold new look to a familiar face while maintaining Built Ford Tough authenticity.
F-150 Lightning is the most aerodynamic F-150 ever (See superscript 9), with improvements like newly shaped running boards, a sculpted hood to reduce drag, and grilles that replace air intake holes with a smoother, textured surface. Even more functional design delivers available enhanced 360-degree Zone Lighting, which can light up a specific zone or the entire area around the vehicle.
And F-150 Lightning makes no compromises on space, maintaining the same cab and bed dimensions as its gas counterpart, so it remains capable of accommodating thousands of accessories already available. The available fold-out Interior Work Surface makes working inside the vehicle even easier and more productive, while available Max Recline Seats offer nearly 180-degrees of recline to help customers recharge as needed.
Proudly assembled in America, F-150 Lightning will make use of the new, state-of-the-art Rouge Electric Vehicle Center – which will also be a zero-waste-to-landfill site. Ford is investing $700 million USD into the historic Rouge Complex, adding 500 new jobs and employing advanced Sustainable manufacturing technology to build the truck as part of its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Arriving in Spring 2022, F-150 Lightning will be available in four series and two battery options at more than 360 EV-certified Ford dealers across Canada, with the option for fleet customers to access Ford’s complete ecosystem of connected data and telematics services via Ford Commercial Solutions.
Reserve your spot in line today with a $C100 deposit on Ford.ca
1. Based on 1977-2020 CY total sales (US) and 1965 – 2020CY total sales (CAN)
2. Based on original equipment manufacturers (OEM)/automotive manufacturers that sell all-electric vehicles and have
publicly announced charging networks. Department of Energy data used. FordPass, compatible with select
smartphone platforms, is available via a download. Message and data rates may apply.
3. Taxes, title and license fees extra.
4. Based on manufacturer testing using computer engineering simulations. Calculated via peak performance of the
electric motor(s) at peak battery power. Your results may vary.
5. BlueCruise – Driver-assist features are supplemental and do not replace the driver’s attention, judgment and need to
control the vehicle. BlueCruise is a hands-free highway driving feature. Only remove hands from the steering wheel
when in a Hands-Free Blue Zones. Always watch the road and be prepared to resume control of the vehicle. It does
not replace safe driving. See owner’s manual for detail and limitations.
6. FordPass Connect (optional on select vehicles), and complimentary Connected Service are required for remote
features (see FordPass Terms for details). Connected service and features depend on compatible AT&T network
availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of
connected features. Connected service excludes Wi-Fi hotspot
7. Excludes Platinum models. Based on full charge. U.S. EPA-targeted range based on analytical projection consistent
with US EPA combined drive cycle. Actual range varies with conditions such as external environment, vehicle use,
vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and state of health.
8. Excludes Platinum models. Range and charge time based on manufacturer computer engineering simulations and
analytical projection consistent with US EPA combined drive cycle. The charging rate decreases as battery reaches
capacity. Results may vary based on peak charging times, battery state of charge. Actual range varies with conditions
such as external environment, vehicle use, vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and state of health.
9. Based on an equivalent body style/driveline/drivetrain.
Horsepower, torque, payload, towing and targeted EPA-estimated range are independent attributes and may not be
achieved simultaneously.
